Biryani high on taste list

Nawabi flair on a platter: A plate of chicken biryani at Biryaneez on Boring Road. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Biryani, the trademark cuisine of Calcutta, Lucknow and Hyderabad, is rising on the popularity meter of Patna in the last couple of years.

Till about three years ago, there were one or two Mughlai restaurants in the city. Since 2012, more such eateries have been opening to satisfy lovers of good food with the flavours and essence best found in Hyderabad or Calcutta.

Now, the count of biryani restaurants has gone up to at least six in Patna. One of them is the year-old Biryaneez on Boring Road. The restaurant sources its spices from Calcutta.

Mohammad Harun, the manager, said: “Not only this, cooks and all the other employees have been hired from Calcutta. We bring all the fragnance and spices from Calcutta, including bari elaichi (black cardamon), chhota elaichi (green cardamon), kewra water, rose water and meetha attar.” A plate of chicken biryani comes at Rs 150 at the restaurant, while mutton and vegetarian biryanis cost Rs 190 and Rs 130 respectively.

Apart from enjoying the mouth-watering morsels of food, patrons would be able find fascinating titbits on the walls. Among the information are how the Sumerians used to grow onions in 2500 BC.

Two-year-old Biryani Mahal near Maurya Lok Complex also offers residents the authentic taste of biryani from Bengal. “We have taken help of our Calcutta-based relatives who own famous biryani shops in Calcutta, including Shiraz and Aminia,” said Babar Khan, the owner. Here, a plate of chicken biryani is for Rs 110, while mutton biryani is priced at Rs 120.

Royal Biryani Centre is one of the oldest Mughlai restaurants in the city — it opened in 2006. Foodies can gorge on egg biryani although owner Guddu said chicken was the most popular.